Police are searching for a three-year-old boy who disappeared from his home after going to bed last night.

Mikaeel Kular was last seen when he was put down to sleep at around 9pm last night, Wednesday 16 January, in Ferry Gait, Edinburgh.

The boy's distraught mother discovered he was missing at 7.20am.

Mikaeel, who has four siblings, including a twin sister, is described as 3ft tall and possibly wearing a beige hooded jacket, brown shoes and jogging bottoms.

Police in Edinburgh said there is no evidence to suggest criminality but officers are 'keeping an open mind'.

Sky News was reporting that a man had been detained in connection with the disapparance, but this wasn't confirmed.

Detectives are trying to work out how the child managed to leave the property, and will have to consider if the child was snatched or if he slipped out of his bed, put on his coat and shoes and walked out.

Anyone who believes they have seen Mikaeel last night or this morning should contact police immediately, and are urged to check their home, garage or outbuildings for him.

Police Scotland superintendent Liz McAinsh said: "There is no evidence to suggest criminality at the moment but clearly we are keeping an open mind.

"We're a big organisation now with Police Scotland and we are using all of the resources at our disposal to look for this three-year-old boy.

"Think about your own homes. Look everywhere a three-year-old boy may go."

She added: "We know that his jacket and shoes are not within the property so we are following up all lines of inquiry in that regard. We don't know if he may have left of his own volition , but obviously that's one line of inquiry we are following up. "

As you can imagine, Mikaeel's mother is distraught. She just wants our help and the public's help in finding her little boy."

Ms McAinsh said police will be speaking to talk to all family members, including Mikaeel's father.

Anyone with information can contact Police Scotland on 101or the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.